Improved safety-bridle



UNTTen STATES PATENT Frrcn.

AMOS B. CHRIST AND HENRY H. STEHMAN, OF MANOR TOWNSHIP, LAN- CASTER COUNTY,

PENN SYLVAN IA Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,139,

dated January 23, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AMos B. CHRIST and HENRY H. STEHMAN, of Manor township, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement on Saiety-Bridles, and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l represents the bridle on the horses head; Fig. 2, one side separately shown in parts detached. Fig. 3 illustrates the operation Fig. 4, a roller-buckle; Fig. 5, a roller in the ring of the bit to facilitate the action of the strap B.

Having inspected the operation of the plain safety-strap passed directly through the ring of the bit on the bridle, and experimented with it, we discovered a great defect, inasmuch as it required a directly-upward pull on the rein or strap to produce the full benet ofthe same, besides it does not prevent a vicious horse from ikicking. y Thoughfhighly beneficial, we considered it not fully adequate to secure perfeet safety and reliance, which led us to study, in order to improve the same, and has resulted in complete success, by first securing one end ot' the strap B to the ring A of the bridle-bit, carrying it up to a pulley, e, or buckle ej', Fig. 4, over said pulley, down on the inside next the horses cheek BX, and passed outward through the ring ot' the bit A, provided with a roller, a, Fig. 5, (or a plain ring may be used,) ending said strap with a ring orits equivalent for attaching the reins or lines, as well as to prevent the end from slipping through and dropping the bit. The ring c or buckle c f is held by astrap, E, which may be lengthened or shortened in the roller-buckle or an independent buckle on the strap. Thus the strap can be regulated with ease, and is applicable to any kind of a bridle with or without blinds. The ordinary head-stall and throat-latch is used. The strap E, from the temporal union of the frontal band, may be of any desired length. A martingale can also be employed without interfering with the compound action of the strap B. The dii'erence and advantage of this arrangement is readily seen and understood, and the result is by no means substantially the same as when the strap is attached above or carried over the head, in which case the ring end of the strap always acts upon the ring ot' the bit in the direction from whence the force is applied. The action upon the bit upward, in which the principal utility is claimed, is a secondary result only, and subject to many drawbacks, as when, for instance, in plowing, or when dismounted or leading a vicious horse, or even when seated in a carriage, this upward motion of the bit is but partially secured, and when dismounted you have to-stand on tiptoe and extend your arms upward in order to draw the bit up sufficiently to check an unruly animal, by no means an easyjob nor free from danger. These objections are obviated by carrying the strap, secured to the ring of the bit, first upward over a pulley, then down through the ring ot' the bit., Thus a pull on the ring end of the doubled strap B B", from whatever direction, must tend to draw the bit directly upward. Vhether directly from below the horses mouth, side, or rear, the action is the same and reliable, and cannot fail to be trulyeticaciousunderallcircumstances. This makes it a decided improvement over the simple ring-pulley only in the bit, by beingacom- V pound or double-pulley arrangement, increasing the power and controlling the direction of the force applied', and constitutes a reliable safet 7-br-idle.

To an ordinaryline having aring, R, on each end, Fig. 6, we attach on each side a short branch, F, to connect with the ring D on the sliding end of the safety-strap B, the action of which is to raise the bit of the bridle upward in the horses mouth to check and bring him under subj ection; but for ordinary driving we attach another branch, L, of gum-elastic,orits equivalent, which is connected with the ring A of the bridle-bit, sufliciently stout to guide a horse in the ordinary way. The Objectis to guard against sudden frightor a vicious habit, to bring the horse in check. When a harder pull is iliade on the line the gum `yields and throws the action wholly upon the safetystrap B.

M are awaredzhathlouble lines are used,

2 sans@ one Within another, branching` at one end for a similar object, but making it necessary to changefronn one line to the other in attempting to control a horse. Such a line we disclaim.

W'e are aware that an independent strap, or with one end affixed to the bridle, is in use and patented, No. 43,308. Such a strap we do not claim.

Vhat We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a strap, E, and roller e 7" with a safety-strap, B, having one end affixed to the rin g A of the bridle-bit and oarried np over a roller and then down through HENRY H. STEHMAN. AMOS B. CHRIST.

Witnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, J Aeon STAUFFER. 

